Timely words for a generation of Christians that often associates God’s favor and grace exclusively with prosperity, comfort, material blessing, and worldly happiness: Job’s words [in Job 13:15] remind us of God’s sovereignty over all of life, including its pain and suffering. God is not the author of evil, of course, but he is sovereign [...]
Archive for the ‘suffering’ Category
When the Building Collapses
Posted: April 18, 2012 in books, providence, quotes, suffering, theology0
Pray for Our Brother!
Posted: February 23, 2012 in christianity, current events, islam, justice, persecution, politics, prayer, sufferingPlease, take a moment to pray for our brother in Christ, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who just yesterday was sentenced to execution in Iran for converting to Christianity. Fox News reports: Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at [...]
Martin Luther commenting on Jonah 2:2: 2. I called to the Lord out of my distress. For there was nothing else to do in such need of both body and soul but cry out. Our desires, our powers are nothing, just as Jonah here called out in pressing need. No merit was present, for he [...]
Fighting Pride and Despair with the Gospel
Posted: October 23, 2011 in gospel, humility, suffering, video9/11 and the New Calvinism
Posted: September 6, 2011 in america, calvinism, culture, current events, history, misc, providence, suffering, theologyTrevin Wax has written a thought-provoking piece exploring the possible impact of the attacks of Semptember 11, 2001 on the recent resurgence of Reformed theology among American evangelicals. His main points are as follows: 1. September 11 forced “the problem of evil” to the forefront of theological reflection. Terrorism brought the concept of “evil” back [...]
Come and Die
Posted: July 13, 2011 in books, christianity, discipleship, Jesus, obedience, persecution, quotes, sufferingFriend, anyone who told you that being a Christian requires nothing more than saying a few words or praying a prayer as if it were a magic spell, was dead wrong. Anyone who told you that coming to Jesus would make your life easy, pleasant, and fun, was dead wrong. Anyone who told you that [...]
If Merely An Example, Jesus Will Crush You
Posted: July 7, 2011 in books, humility, Jesus, poor, quotes, sufferingThe kingdom of God also seems unnatural psychologically. When you hear Jesus say that he prizes weakness, poverty, suffering, and rejection, you say, “That’s masochism. It’s psychologically unhealthy. It’s impossible to live like that.” And guess what, it is kind of impossible to live like that. When you see Jesus caring for the poor, forgiving [...]
Not Lessened One Whit
Posted: June 8, 2011 in books, calvin, history, hope, joy, persecution, providence, quotes, sufferingLetter to Monsieur De Falais Exhortation to glorify God amid poverty and persecution. …It is time to show in reality that when you have set yourself frankly to follow Jesus Christ, you have not done so without being resolved to hold fellowship with Him at the cross, since He has done us that honour to [...]
